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Wednesday, August 20, 2014

SPOILERS: Batwoman #34

Some things that were pretty obviously going to happen, well... they happened, and that's pretty much what this book has been doing for awhile now.

The Spoilers:

Starting where the last issue left off, there's a big fight between Batwoman, Nocturna/Night-Thief and Killshot on the roof. During the action, Batwoman gets her mask yanked off, and Nocturna who becomes entranced with watching Batwoman, goes to see Kate's face, which she does. Killshot tries to take Nocturna out, but Night-Thief takes the bullets and they land in the Gotham Bay. Batwoman ties up Killshot and calls it a night.

Later, movers are getting Kate's stuff out of her apartment, and when she finally leaves, she sees Maggie out in the hall, who tells Kate that her husband dropped the custody suit. Maggie suggests they celebrate, but Kate is a little iffy and says she'll call in the morning. Yeah, but she won't, because inside the apartment is a letter to Maggie from Kate, saying they should take a break and Maggie should spend the time she has with her daughter.

During Kate's next therapist meeting, it's revealed that Kate (obviously) made a deal with Maggie's ex-husband to stay away from Maggie and Jamie if he drops the suit and doesn't tell Maggie. That night, after recognizing Kate on the cover of a tabloid, Nocturna makes her way into Kate's new apartment, and ends up chomping down on Kate's neck.

Yay... vampires...

END.

The Review:

Predictability! That's what this book continues to suffer from, and this issue was the apex of that. Of course Kate makes a deal with Maggie's homophobic husband to stay away from them, because of course they have to break Kate and Maggie up after that fucking nonsense that lead us to find out that DC hates their characters to be married. This book needed to shake "controversy" and just move on, and while the book played things a little safe, ultimate I began to forget about it, but then this issue just rips the scab right off, and now I'm bleeding cynicism towards it. There's no suspense or nuance to this at all, and it just comes off as feeling anything but entertaining or enjoyable. I have a hard time believing anyone would be able to connect with this, because it just feels so clichéd...

And for the love of god, don't even get me started on the whole god damn vampire thing.

The Bottom Line:

I'm at a crossroads with this book. After an arc of nothing but predictable and at time, groan worthy events, I have to wonder if it's even worth it anymore? Let's look at it this way, the break-up was dumb, the potential vampire thing is just nonsense, and an artist I don't like at all is taking over the book. I'll admit, the potential supporting cast of the new arc seems interesting, but if "Batwoman is a vampire now!" or something similar is what is used to get there, I don't know about it. Then if we look at the big picture, you can go down the present and future line a Bat books and see that each book has an unique hook to it, or will be receiving one, yet Batwoman remains a relic of sorts, where it's just "Here's a hero in the city they're in... and go" with not much more to it.

The book has just become boring for me, and at this point, I can't say for sure I'll read #35 and onwards. If I had to be honest, I'm generally leaning towards dropping it.

1 comment
:

I feel ya. I didn't even pic this issue up yesterday because last month put a bad taste in my mouth and Georges Jeanty. So, it was hard to say goodbye, but, oh well, it's their fault, not mine. If you're not reading it, the new Elektra has the feel of the old batwoman, to me. I'm sure it has a lot to do with Blackman writing, bu Del Mundo's art hits all the right spots.